I only first became aware of this movie yesterday, and my first thought was wondering what Bob had to say about it. I was expecting him to hate it. Kind of a surprise there.

And I'm kind of with him on the quality Seth's shows. I don't really understand all the hate for Family Guy. I like it. I don't love it, but it's generally good. I like American Dad about the same. Sometimes Family Guy is better, sometimes it's worse, but the shows are generally on par with each other. The Cleveland Show is terrible though. The whole premise of the show seems so artificial to me. It's a spin off for the sake of a spin off, not because it was needed in any way. The comedy is completely uninspired, and I feel like the only reason they have the bear character in it is just because that's what Seth does. He puts characters in who shouldn't be able to talk but do. The character doesn't have a fleshed out personality and is generally really boring, while other unusual characters Seth creates are usually good in their own right. They would work if they were normal people. But that bear just feels like it was put in there because Seth felt like he had to.

Combining this with Ebert's review of the thing (guy has to know something about dumb/bad movies if he actually wrote a Russ Meyer movie) I think this is my winner this weekend at the movies. Would have still liked a little shout-out of 'I told ya so!' or 'didn't hate it at much as I expected: must...disembowel...self' in terms of Spiderman though.

Edit: just saw Ted. Not sure I see what all the fuss is about to be honest. About 10% of the jokes are legitimately funny (a few gems are hysterical in fact), but 90% of the jokes really are just 'Teddy bear does things unbecoming a Teddy bear.' If you got bored of that joke on Family Guy or any other Seth MacFarlane project this will not change your mind.

Watch it on Netflix when it comes out. Don't bother with it in the theater.

Seriously.. I saw Mcfarlane on the Daily show, where they talk about the "borne identity" like fight scene.. and Immediately any chance this film had for me, was obliterated, for basically regurgitating the peter "Chicken fight" gag with live actors and it was confirmed here with this split second clip of it.

So yeah... I seriously get the feeling, Seth, like many of his inspirations, happened to come across reruns of "unhappily ever after" and worked his magic and ripped it off. (hint:Bobcat Goldthwait did it better)

Basically thats Mcfarlanes formula... Shit he found on the internet/tv/movies/elsewhere, mixed in with pointless filler material and likely musicals.

So to willingly give this guy money to reward him for this non work so more of this kinda crap can be made? Not gonna happen.

Guess I am in that hate it camp on McFarlane. I try to watch his work periodically cause he at least tries to change, but it seems increasingly it only gets worse.

So yeah... I seriously get the feeling, Seth, like many of his inspirations, happened to come across reruns of "unhappily ever after" and worked his magic and ripped it off.

Argh, ninja'd. I wanted to mention that Unhappily Ever After had basically the same premise only the guy had a family and the bear was a rabbit but other than that it's really pretty much the same set up.

*does an episode of the big picture about how formulaic is not inherently bad**wanted to mark this down as formulaic and therefore bad*Seriously, what?

Well, he means that being formulaic doesn't mean the whole movie is bad, but being too formulaic can get in the way of the enjoyment of the movie. Like he said you can pretty much see every part coming. However, like he also said, the movie is so funny that it doesn't ruin it for you. He said about the same thing for the Avengers. You can predict pretty much what's going to happen, but it's still so well made you don't care. But some people still care, so he has to mention it.

So yeah... I seriously get the feeling, Seth, like many of his inspirations, happened to come across reruns of "unhappily ever after" and worked his magic and ripped it off.

Argh, ninja'd. I wanted to mention that Unhappily Ever After had basically the same premise only the guy had a family and the bear was a rabbit but other than that it's really pretty much the same set up.

And Unhappily Ever After itself was basically "Wedded... with Offspring."

*does an episode of the big picture about how formulaic is not inherently bad**wanted to mark this down as formulaic and therefore bad*Seriously, what?

I was thinking the same thing. C'mon now Bob, don't confuse us like this.

I might give this one a chance. The trailer makes it look really funny, if anything it might turn out to be a good hangover-flick.

Aaaand while we're on the subject of Family Guy... yes, I absolutely love the first three seasons. Everything after that, sure, there's usually at least one brilliant joke in every episode, but there's so much crap you have to go through to get to the good parts. I think it's a shame since I still hold those first three seasons as some of the funniest TV ever made.

*does an episode of the big picture about how formulaic is not inherently bad**wanted to mark this down as formulaic and therefore bad*Seriously, what?

Nothing wrong with Formula. I think he, like me, find it a little silly when we can predict plot points from scene to scene.I've already pointed out the "Obligatory falling out of friendship" scene from the trailers. Seems every movie in existence must have that kind of plot development BY LAW.

well im genuinly suprised! whenever a movie like that comes out i always expect it to be bad and stupid (like so many before) but seeing one that actully works to the level that bob liked it that makes me happy :D

btw im in the love mecfarlen camp so im defenitly checking this one out (even though this is the first time ive heard of it 0.0 )